Hair &amp; Thread Cutter Blade

ABSTRACT

The hair and thread cutting blade is related to the vacuum cleaner brush roller and cuts hair and thread into tiny pieces as it works its way past the thread guard on the ends of the brush roller preventing them from impeding the rotation of the brush roller.

CROSS REFERENCE OR RELATED APPLICATIONS

U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,243 May 1992 Stengens

US20050125941A1 Joung et al, Jun. 16, 2005

U.S. Pat. No. 6,158,084 Dec. 12, 2000 The Hoover Company

U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,102 Sep. 11, 1990 Cousins

U.S. Pat. No. 4,429,430 Feb. 7, 1984 John B Lyman

U.S. Pat. No. 5,598,600 Feb. 4, 1997 Stengens

U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,603 Dec. 20, 1003 Stengens

U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,785 Dec. 28, 1993 Stengens

U.S. Pat. No. 4,403,372 Sep. 1983 Keane et al

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX (IF APPLICABLE)

None

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the bearings on the brush roller of a vacuum cleaner, and more specifically to the end caps or bearing holder of a vacuum cleaner brush roll characterized by a new means of cutting hair and thread that works its way past the thread guard to prevent ceasing and fouling of the brush roll bearings by the thread and hair picked up from the carpet. The problem that creates a need for this invention stems from the brush roller on a vacuum cleaner continually wrapping up human, pet hair and threads from the carpet. The hair or thread normally works its way to the outside of the brush roller, slips off the end and wraps around the axel and bearing of the brush roller. The build up of hair or thread on the axel and bearing eventually freezes the free movement of the bearing resulting in a ceased bearing, burnt up belts, and damaged end caps. The location of the axel and bearing does not lend itself to an easy home repair and requires a technician and replacement parts.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The thread and hair cutter blade is a stationary cutting blade fitted into or over the outer circumference of the retaining wall of the sleeve bearing hollow seat (cup) on the brush roller end cap. The purpose of the thread and hair cutter blade is to cut hair and threads that work past the thread guards on each end of the brush roller and to prevent thread and hair from damaging the bearing, the brush roll and the drive belt. The present invention provides a vacuum cleaner rotating brush roll to pull hair and thread that work toward the outside of the brush roll and past the thread guards to be dragged into the thread and hair cutter blade. The thread and hair is cut into small pieces and sucked back into the vacuum thereby preventing long strands of thread and hair from wrapping the bearing and causing it to cease up and damage the bearing, housing, or belt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWING

FIG. 1 Page 6. (10) Item 10 is a view of a hair/thread cutter blade with a single piece split ring with 400 degree of separation between blades and raised 1/16 inch over (42) the width of wall of the bearing seat hollow that face in opposite direction so the application is to either end of the roller bar and will face against the rotation of the brush roller. This item is a pre-manufactured and post-manufactured hair and thread cutter blade that can be installed at time of manufacture or as an after market add on.

FIG. 2 Page 7. (20) Item 20 is a view of a hair/thread cutter blade with a single piece solid ring and 225 degree of separation between cutting blades and raised 1/16 inch over (42) the width of wall of the bearing seat hollow that face in opposite direction so it is applicable to either end of the roller bar and will face into and against the rotation of the brush roller. This item is a pre-manufactured and post-manufactured hair and thread cutter blade that can be installed at time of manufacture or as an after market add on.

FIG. 3 Page 8. (30) Item 30 is a view a hair/thread cutter blade with a 180 degree blade separation between blades raised 1/16 inch over the width of the bearing seat hollow cup and molded into the end cap bearing cup. The hair/thread cutter blade with a slightly raised ⅛ inch cutter blade facing each direction so each end cap is reversible and can fit on either end of the Brush roller and will face into and against the rotation of the brush roller.

FIG. 4 Page 9. (40) Item 40 is a view a hair/thread cutter blade with a blade raised 1/16 inch over the width of the bearing seat hollow cup and molded into the end cap bearing cup. The hair/thread cutter blade is sharpened in both directions and can fit on either end of the Brush roller and will face into the rotation of the brush roller.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The hair and thread cutter blade is a small knife blade mounted in a stationary position to each brush bar end cap. The end cap is used to support the axel bearing of the brush bar and the brush bar axel rotates being driven by the belt from the vacuum cleaners motor or by the air-flow of the vacuum.

When the brush bar rotates across the surface to be vacuumed it pick up threads, hair and they wrap around the brush bar. On many vacuums a string and hair guard made of felt is glued to the end of the brush bar in order to prevent the hair and thread from moving off the end of the brush bar and wrapping in the axel bearing of the brush bar.

When hair and thread wrap around the axel and bearing it builds up over time and stops the bearing from turning and many time causes the actual end cap to spin with great resistance resulting in the ceasing the bearing, the melting the belt, or increased resistant preventing the airflow of the vacuum to rotate the brush bar.

The hair and thread cutter blade is stationary which allows the brush bar to pull the thread and hair over the blade cutting it on each rotation. The cut hair and thread are in small peaces that no long have the length needed to wrap around the brush bar axel or bearing. They are vacuumed into the vacuum cleaner. The hair and thread cutter blade small knife blade mounted in a stationary position can be added to the vacuum pre-manufacturing or post-manufacturing. The blade can be modified to fit the variations of end caps by each manufacturer using axel supports on the brush bar for their specific vacuum using brush bars

DRAWING

FIG. 1 Page 7. Item 10 is a view of a hair/thread cutter blade with a split ring 400 degree of separation between blades and raised 1/16 inch over (42) the width of wall of the bearing seat hollow that face in opposite direction so it is applicable to either end of the roller bar and will face into the rotation of the brush roller.

-   -   a. The expanded view shows the Hair/Thread Cutter Blade (46)         mounted onto the end cap (40) of the brush roller.     -   b. The width of the ring (46) exceed the hollow of the bearing         seat (44) by 1/16 of an inch to catch hair or threads that slide         off the face of the bearing between the bearing and the brush         roller.     -   c. The hair/thread cutter blade (46) is not flush with the         bearing cup hollow (42) top ridge, but is raised 1/16 to cut         hair/thread that slide over the face of the bearing.     -   d. The hair/thread cutter blade should not exceed the 1/16 over         or it can cut into the housing of the brush roller unless the         housing is modified to fit the insertion of the cutter blade.

FIG. 2 Page 8. (20) Item 20 is a view of a hair/thread cutter blade with a solid ring and 225 degree of separation between blades and raised 1/16 inch over (42) the width of wall of the bearing seat hollow that face in opposite directions so it is application to either end of the roller bar and will face against and into the rotation of the brush roller.

-   -   a. The expanded view shows the Hair/Thread Cutter Blade (46)         mounted onto the end cap (40) of the brush roller.     -   b. The width of the ring (46) exceed the hollow of the bearing         seat (44) by 1/16 of an inch to catch hair or threads that slide         off the face of the bearing between the bearing and the brush         roller.     -   c. The hair/thread cutter blade (46) is not flush with the         bearing cup hollow (42) top ridge, but is raised 1/16 to cut         hair/thread that slide over the face of the bearing.     -   d. The hair/thread cutter blade should not exceed the 1/16 over         or it can cut into the housing of the brush roller, unless the         housing is modified to fit the insertion of the cutter blade.

FIG. 3 Page 10. (30) Item 30 is a view of a hair/thread cutter blade with a 180 degree blade separation between blades raised 1/16 inch over the width of the bearing seat hollow cup and molded into the end cap bearing cup. The hair/thread cutter blade with a slightly raised ⅛ inch cutter blade facing each direction so each end cap is reversible and can fit on either end of the brush roller and will face into and against the rotation of the brush roller.

-   -   a. The expanded view shows the Hair/Thread Cutter Blade (46)         molded as one piece into the end cap (40) of the brush roller.     -   b. The width of the blade (30) exceed the wall height of the         hollow of the bearing seat (44) by 1/16 of an inch to catch hair         or threads that slide off the face of the bearing between the         bearing and the brush roller.     -   c. The hair/thread cutter blade (46) is not flush with the         bearing cup hollow (42) top ridge, but is raised 1/16 to cut         hair/thread that slide over the face of the bearing.     -   d. The hair/thread cutter blade should not exceed the 1/16 over         or it can cut into the housing of the brush roller, unless the         housing is modified to fit the insertion of the cutter blade.

FIG. 4 Page 11. (40) Item 40 is a view a hair/thread cutter blade with a blade raised 1/16 inch over the width of the bearing seat hollow cup and molded into the end cap bearing cup. The hair/thread cutter blade is sharpened in both directions and can fit on either end of the Brush roller and will face into and against the rotation of the brush roller.

-   -   e. The expanded view shows the Hair/Thread Cutter Blade (40)         molded as one piece into the end cap (46) of the brush roller.     -   f. The width of the blade (40) exceeds the wall height of the         hollow of the bearing seat (44) by 1/16 of an inch to catch hair         or threads that slide off the face of the bearing between the         bearing and the brush roller.     -   g. The hair/thread cutter blade (40) is not flush with the         bearing cup hollow (42) top ridge, but is raised 1/16 to cut         hair/thread that slide over the face of the bearing.     -   h. The hair/thread cutter blade should not exceed the 1/16 over         or it can cut into the housing of the brush roller, unless the         housing is modified to fit the insertion of the cutter blade. 

1. I claim a stationary cutting blade fitted into or over the outer circumference of the retaining wall of the sleeve bearing hollow seat on the brush roller end cap that is suitable to fit different size bearings in order to cut hair and threads that work past the thread guards on each end of the brush roller and prevent thread and hair from damaging the bearing or impeding the rotation of the brush roller
 2. I claim a stationary cutter blade exceeding the width of the sleeve bearing by 1/32 inch comprised of spring steel that is sharp on both ends and held in place by the elasticity reserve applying tension out side the end cap or by the blade being imbedded into the end cap. a. the dimension of the cutting blade is designed to exceed the width of the end cap by no less than 1/32 inch and to match circumference of each end cap bearing retainer suitable to fit the multiple dimensions of different size bearings. b. the cutting blade may be constructed of an outside mounting ring over the sleeve bearing cup retaining ¾ radius of very thin spring steel with an extended or raised cutting blade that is sharp on both ends of the ¾ radius. The reversed mounting of this cutting blade is permissible since it cuts in either direction of the brush rollers rotation. c. the elasticity reserve of the attached spring steel cutting blade band applies tension to hold the cutter in place and allows for the fitting to embrace sizes larger than the resting circumference of the cutting blade band. 3-5. (canceled) 